Hyderabad: Inside six months of the balladeer’s demise, the Congress authorities in Telangana has moved to erect a statue of Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly generally known as Gaddar, on Hyderabad outskirts, and introduced the reinstitution of the Telugu films-theatre awards in his identify.
On Wednesday, CM Revanth Reddy attended the primary “Gaddar Jayanthi” occasion organised by his administration in Hyderabad, and described the celebrated poet-singer as “a Telangana legend, brand ambassador.”
Political analysts see Revanth’s initiatives as a bid to consolidate the Dalit, Left leaning votes for the Lok Sabha polls, whereas impressing upon the general public how the Congress is embracing the Ambedkarite who was allegedly disregarded by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief Ok. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Identified for his revolutionary ballads that stirred uprisings within the eighties and nineties, Gaddar (74) died of unwell well being, whereas present process remedy in a hospital, in August final 12 months.
Within the Telangana polls in November, the Congress social gathering had fielded Gaddar’s daughter Vennela in Secunderabad cantonment. Vennela, an educationist, got here third whereas the BRS received the seat.
ఆయనతో గడిపిన క్షణాలు…
నాలో పోరాటాన్ని రగిల్చిన నిప్పు కణాలు.ఆయనతో సంభాషించిన మాటలు…
నేనొక ప్రజా గొంతుకై పేలిన తూటాలు.ఆయన గుర్తుగా మిగిలిన జ్ఞాపకాలు….
పేదల పక్షాన నేనెగరేసే బావుటాలు.గద్దరన్నా…
నీ స్ఫూర్తి…
జనం కోసం నువ్వు పడిన ఆర్తి…
నన్ను నిత్యం వెన్నంటి… pic.twitter.com/gmQjpRKIXz— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) January 31, 2024
On the Wednesday occasion, the CM recommended Gaddar, describing him as one of many leaders, inspirations within the Telangana statehood motion and because the one who relaunched struggle for the general public “as their aspirations remained unfulfilled under the previous (KCR) regime.”
“Gaddar’s strong aspiration for a people’s government served as an inspiration, which resulted in the Congress government removing the iron fences that barricaded the public from the Pragathi Bhavan (KCR’s camp-office) and name it as Mahatma Phule Praja Bhavan,” Revanth instructed the viewers.
When Gaddar died, retired bureaucrat-turned-rights activist Akunuri Murali tweeted his image purportedly ready exterior the Pragathi Bhavan. “Gaddar anna tried to meet KCR two times. This picture is from 28 February 2023, Gaddar waiting for three hours seeking an audience with KCR. Having refused to meet him when alive, KCR has now instructed final rites with state honors and visited his home in hunt of votes,” he posted in August.
Political analyst Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao opines that Revanth’s contemporary efforts now, along with the meeting ticket to Gaddar’s daughter, are apparently for the Congress to say the Ambedkarite and Telangana pioneer’s legacy.
“Within three months of becoming CM, Revanth is facing a very big test — Lok Sabha polls. While the party is yet to deliver on its six guarantees, Revanth, by eulogising Gaddar is evidently wooing those Dalits who voted for the BRS earlier for schemes such as Dalit Bandhu,” Rao tells ThePrint.
Telangana has 17 Lok Sabha seats, and Revanth has aimed to win all of the segments in an effort to assist his social gathering on the Centre. Presently, the BRS has 9 MPs, the BJP 4, the Congress 3, and the AIMIM 1.
Revanth additional introduced that his authorities will institute ‘Gaddar Awards’ instead of the Nandi Awards, an equal of Nationwide Movie Awards, offered yearly within the occasions of united Andhra Pradesh. The awards, based to recognise excellence in Telugu cinema, theatre, and tv, had been discontinued in the course of the BRS rule.
Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, the lone CPI MLA in Telangana, the place the social gathering is in alliance with Congress, additionally attended the occasion.
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Anti-Terrorism Discussion board censures ‘glorification’
In the meantime, Hyderabad-based Anti-Terrorism Discussion board (ATF) is faulting the Congress authorities for commemorating the beginning anniversary of Gaddar as an official occasion and allotment of a land parcel at Tellapur, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, for erecting his statue.
ATF termed Gaddar “a figure who has been associated with Maoist ideology, which is responsible for the deaths of numerous police personnel and innocent civilians, and fundamentally opposed to the principles of democracy.”
“Glorification of such an individual and thus ideologies by an elected government not only undermines the democratic fabric of our nation but also serves to demoralise our armed forces who risk their lives to protect our country from internal and external threats,” ATF convenor Ravinuthala Shashidhar stated in an announcement.
“These actions, unfortunately, signal a troubling endorsement of anti-democratic values and directly contravene the laws of the land which expressly ban Maoism and Naxalism due to their violent methods and objectives.” .
ATF is in search of Telangana Governor’s intervention to revoke the land allotment for Gaddar statue, in addition to to stop the official celebration of ‘Gaddar Jayanthi.’
“Such initiatives are not only disrespectful to the victims of Maoist violence but also to the very principles of democracy and the rule of law. ATF is also writing to the Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, urging to examine the matter and take appropriate action to rectify this undemocratic act perpetrated by the government,” says the assertion.
Ravinuthala, who can be the VHP state joint secretary, says the problem warrants the Centre’s consideration, “given that the celebration of figures associated with banned ideologies poses a significant challenge to national security and unity.”
The ATF had registered its protest when Gaddar’s remaining rites had been held with state honours in August, in the course of the BRS authorities.
‘Gaddar later embraced democracy”
Born Gummadi Vittal Rao in 1949, in a Dalit household at Toopran in west central Telangana, Gaddar was aligned with the unconventional Naxalite/Maoist actions that overwhelmed united Andhra Pradesh until mid-2000s. He was the face of the Jana Natya Mandali, cultural entrance of the extremist motion.
Impressed by Naxalbari politics, Gaddar discontinued an engineering course at Osmania College. He labored with Canara Financial institution for a short time however rejoined the ultra-left marketing campaign. His poignant lyrics extolling the category battle, shirtless rendition on stage, and rustic dance steps electrified the lots and was a significant power attracting many youths to take to armed resistance or develop into sympathetic to it.
In 1997, the Telugu bard survived an assassination try, when Chandrababu Naidu was the CM. For the remainder of his life, he carried a bullet in his backbone. Later, Gaddar steadily moved away from the revolutionary path to just accept the poll.
In 2017, Gaddar introduced that he was registered to vote. Whereas turning to democracy, he went additional and began visiting temples.
“His was a pivotal role in strengthening the people’s movement earlier and the statehood struggle later. Whichever path he took, all his life, my father strived for the people – downtrodden, marginalised from among all the communities,” Vennela instructed ThePrint.
“Gaddar’s course followed the common man’s aspirations, socio-economic, political situations of the time. There are people from all ideologies in our society. Some might still dwell into the past and could be opposing the honour he is receiving now,” Vennela, who runs a college underneath Ambedkar Vidya Niketan Belief, says.
“But we thank the government wholeheartedly. This commemoration, I believe, is not just for Gaddar but for hundreds like him — artists, writers, workers — whose endeavours were for a better society.”
Vennela confirmed that Gaddar, in the course of the BRS regime, was not granted an viewers with the then chief minister KCR. “He had formed Gaddar Praja Party in June and wanted to contest in Gajwel against KCR. ‘(I might lack support), but I’ll go vote for myself to mark my protest in democracy,’ he stated,” stated Vennela. “Save Constitution, Save Democracy and Save India, were his final slogans.”
ThePrint reached the CMO officers for response on ATF’s objections, via calls, WhatsApp messages and is awaiting reply.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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